SOME 38,000 women are expected to benefit from the government's mammogram screening subsidy programme next year, with RM9 million allocated under Budget 2027.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the allocation was an increase of RM1 million from the RM8 million provided this year.
She said the programme, which has been running since 2007, was aimed at encouraging women to undergo breast cancer screening and improve early detection.
Women aged 40 to 70, particularly those from lower-income households, are the programme's main target group.
Priority is given to women from households earning RM10,000 or less, who are eligible for free mammogram screening.
Women from households earning more than RM10,000 are also eligible for a RM50 subsidy, subject to the programme's conditions.
Nancy was speaking at the 2026 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebration at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) in George Town today.
She said awareness of the importance of breast health screening needed to be strengthened, as some women remained afraid of undergoing examinations or were unaware of their importance.
“Sometimes they know about these examinations but are afraid to undergo them. That is why programmes like this are important in encouraging women and raising awareness so they have the courage to get screened.
“That is why it helps to befriend people who are brave and have gone through it, who have undergone screening and can encourage us,” she said.
She also encouraged women to seek advice from relevant authorities on the screening procedures appropriate to their age and individual health needs.
As of Sept 30, 2026, a total of 595,143 women nationwide had undergone mammogram screening, with 1,334 breast cancer cases confirmed, she said.
In Penang, 54,549 women had undergone screening, with 93 breast cancer cases detected. - October 21, 2026